“Golden Bachelor'' stars Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist are officially married.
During a ceremony broadcast live on ABC Thursday night, the couple said their “I Dos” in front of family, friends and “Bachelor” alumni.
Ms. Nist, wearing a Badgley Mischka dress, carried a bouquet of white roses accented with pale pink and yellow as she walked down the aisle with her son, Tommy.
Her daughter Jen and Turner's daughters Jenny and Angie all served as bridesmaids, son-in-law Rob served as Turner's groomsman, and Nist's son-in-law Matt served as groomsman.
'Golden Bachelor' Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist share wedding details, admit it was all about the Fantasy Suite
Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist married live on ABC's “Golden Wedding.” (Disney/Eric McCandless)
“We're going to have as many family members as possible attend,” Turner told Fox News Digital in a joint interview with Nist ahead of the wedding.
Turner's daughters, Jenny Young and Angie Warner, and Nist's daughter, Jen Woolston, served as bridesmaids. (Disney/Eric McCandless)
“Golden Bachelor” alumnus Susan Noles served as master of ceremonies for the couple, giving a fun and heartfelt address before the ceremony concluded.
“Golden Bachelor” alum Susan Noles hosted “Golden Wedding.” (Disney/Eric McCandless)
The couple also wrote their own vows, highlighting their first meeting and date on the show, before proceeding with their official “I Do” moment.
Mr. Nist's grandson, Henry, was the ring bearer, and he completed the delivery smoothly, but the couple and their host, Mr. Knowles, had a hard time removing the ribbon in preparation for the ring exchange.
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Nist's grandson, Henry Woolston, was the ring bearer. (Disney/Eric McCandless)
One of the biggest surprises of the night was a seemingly impromptu proposal between Bachelor in Paradise stars Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell.
After the couple announced they were moving to Tennessee together, Bowers got down on one knee and proposed to Mandrell on live television.
Briaden Bowers proposed to Christina Mandrell during cocktail hour before the Golden Wedding ceremony. (Disney/James Clark)
The moment caused a stir online, with fans calling it a violation of etiquette.
One fan wrote, “Honestly, proposing at someone else's wedding is uncouth.”
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Online commentators criticized Bowers and Mandrell for what appeared to be poor wedding etiquette, but host Jesse Palmer said Bowers had received Turner and Nist's permission to propose. (Disney/Eric McCandless)
“I can't believe Bachelor Nation planned to propose during their golden wedding anniversary. Isn't that the golden rule?” asked another.
“Brayden Reuves will be the center of attention. The proposal was a surprise, but this move was not,” said a third.
After a commercial break, host Jesse Palmer said Bowers had received the couple's permission to propose during the pre-wedding festivities.
Another surprise was the attendance of Leslie Fima, a woman who Turner had refused to appear on Nist.
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Leslie Fima, the woman Turner turned down for List on The Golden Bachelor, attended the Golden Wedding. (Disney/James Clark)
In a pre-ceremony interview with fellow “Golden Bachelor” alum Kathy Swartz, Fima said: ”
Fima previously said on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast that she was blindsided by her breakup with Turner, and that she could get the final rose based on Turner's words during an episode of Fantasy Suite before the finale. He said he believed it strongly.
“I don't want to say everything he said, but when I woke up the next morning, I was 100% sure it was going to happen to me,” she said.
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Ahead of the big moment, the broadcast featured a package looking back at the couple's courtship, wedding planning, and Nist's bachelorette party.
During the party, Nist and several other “Golden Bachelor” alumni were visited by several Chippendales dancers, some of whom joined Mason as guests that night.
Sandra Mason brought one of the Chippendales dancers from Nist's bachelorette party as her “golden wedding” escort. (Disney/Eric McCandless)
The bouquet toss after the ceremony also got a little violent.
Ms. Nist threw a bouquet of flowers before the first official dance, and three of the women, Joanne Cassos, Anna Zalk and Ms. Swartz, all received handfuls of roses.
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Before the broadcast of “Golden Wedding” ended, Turner told attendees and viewers, “Don't stop believing!” (Disney/John & Joseph Photography)
Before the broadcast ended and the real party began, Turner left a final motivational message for the participants and audience.
“One year ago, I was sitting at home thinking that all the highlights of the year were over and my life was over. Because of this journey and this woman, I had a whole new perspective on life. “I was able to do that,” he said. “And I almost forgot a really important piece of advice: never stop believing!”
